Running-gear for vehicles.



A. R. SELDEN. RUNNING GEAR FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED IEU.10,1908,

Patented Nov. 14,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENT R:

A. R SELDEN. RUNNING GEAR FOR VEHICLES. APPLICATION FILED ILB.1U,1908.

Patented Nov. 14, 1911.

2 SHEBTSSHEET 2v WITNESSES= INVENTDR.

" MJI/A membersv and transverse members connect UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR R. SELDEN, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FIFTH TO WILLIAM D. ELLWANGEB, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

RUNNING- GEAR FOR VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 14, 1911.

Application flled February 10, 1908. Serial No. 415,156.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR R. SEpnEN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certainnew and'useful Improvements in Running- Gears for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification. y.

This invention relates to improvements in running ears, a plicable part1cularly to self-prope led roa vehicles or automobiles, of the type in which the frame of the vehicle is divided into two parts which are connected by pivotal joints, afiording provision for relative angular movements of the parts aboutboth horizontal and vertica-l axes. One objeetof the invention is to produce a running-"ear, of the kind above referred to, which shall readily yield to lnequalltles in theroad-surface, while being strong and rigid in its several elements.

Another object of the invention is to produce simple and effective mechanisms, for use in connection with a running-gear of the type in question, by which the necessary movements are transmitted from one part of the runnin -gear to another, both for steering the vehicle and for controlling the motive power.

To. the foregoing ends the invention consists in the running gear hereinafter described, asit is defined in the succeeding claims.

Tn the drawings :Figure 1 is a plan view of a running gear embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the running gear; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the running gear; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal median section on the line A-A in Fig. l.'

The illustrated embodiment of the invention is a runnin gear adapted for use in an ant'omol'aile of tie runabout type. It comprises two frames, which are designated respectively by the refe ence Illll'l'll'1G-1S 1 and 4, and are similar in general form. Each frame is horizontal and of substantially the full width cf the vehicle, that ,is the full width allowed by the gage of the wheels, and each frame comprises longitudinal side in the side members. Since the frames su stantially meet at the middle of the vehicle where the steering pivot is located it is necessary that they be so formed as to permit them to swing into angular positions, and to this end the adjacent ends of the frames are inclined at either side of the pivot, bein formed, specifically, as semi circles at this point,-though the curved form tively. These braces are spaced apart near their forward extremities by a vertical strut 14, and their rear ends are fixed to crossbars 5 and 6 extending between the side members of the rear frame 4. The pivot 8 is provided with a head at one end and a nut at the other by which it is secured in holes in the forward extremities of the braces 10 and 12, as shown particularly in Fig 4.

The forward frame 1 is not pivoted directly upon the vertical ivot, but an intermediate connecting mem er is interposed in order to permit the frames to have relative movement about a horizontal axis for the purpose hcreinbefore described. The connecting member is in the form of a vertical frame of generally-triangular form, comprising inclined upper and lower members 9 and 11, respectively. These members terminate at their forward ends in a head 18, while their rear ends are pivoted upon the vertical pivot 8 and are spaced apart by a vertical strut 13.

The connecting member is connected with the fmward frame 1 by a horizontal pivot in the form of a rod 15 which is fixed in the head 18 and in a boss 20 on the vertical strut 13. Upon. the rear end of the rod 15 is pivoted the rear curved portion of the frame 1, which is provided with a central boss 16 for this purpose, and a horizontal cross-piece 2 extending from side to side of the frame 1 is pivoted upon the forward end of the rod 15.

The construction just described is such that the two frames 1 and 4 are held at all times with their longitudinal axes rigidly in the same horizontal plane, while at the relntii elyf ab' ae eitheri the' vertical poet 8} or the"herizbntal'bivet life: the purposes described; i. "-Theffo ra'nrd frame 1 is mounted upon ordi 'iisr i m wh re fixed" o the foln njit M51623. "rhea-ore wheel e 4 are utilized] as"drivin g wheelsgand to this end areprevided iy'ith ggreelgetq 25, The sprockets 25 are connect ,'b *gyi'rhclget eha ins 29,

\vitl'isp'roekete ill'en t e end's gt a, 'counter" tor 83, aal the 'mo't'rir 'anrl' 'tlie'eliange speeg. 'meehanism. All of tliiHli'ii'iii 'i r'ieeh'anism' i mounted np'en thefora in'd'iirame'i','angi is preferably so arranged thereon" as' to distribute its weight e've'hly \i 'itlirespebt to the 'front axle and thus to' areid 'any unnecessary vertical eminw na 'the eennectiens'betrreenj the frames 1 and 4 q I Q 'lhe rear frame 4 s mounted upon springs and liars: tlexil ile' rio'nneetiens with the interr' mediate ;nn ej(.-:i g'frame ii: order. to swing the moi-r; to ither withlhe foi',\\" ari'| frame 1, about" the ertieal \ivot. A; uianually; operated steering when 36 is Ill ()lllllt!(l 0ll a snoring eoluuln 3 7;\\'hieh is journuledinh sleeve HS carried by a hrueketilfl on the rear frame -l.' At the loa er'fehd-of, the steering eoluoai la a lmrel'gear 40 which meshes with.

a plhlhlr ll. The pinion tl-.,is:|nouuted-on tho rm-mml end: of a lu rivlontal shaft, 42

jmlrnalell in lugs 4 on the 'l'l'alue 4, anti tln: shaft-12in rovided with aworm 4' lowea en lanil .ina horizontal liraee' 2i: at

ilemu-rend; To the hollow of the wormulna-l a ll'llllfVt'l'hll leVeMDislixrd by means nl' wreak 'l7 and '18. 'lho lever 40 is con- Ill'llt'tl with lhe intermediate eouumzliu'g lluu' in meh a umuuer'aa to swing the latt r wiIHLlll! Ion-r is swung in either diree-.

lion by the rotation of the \wnuvwheel. 'l i tlu.-= end the eonueelmg frame It; prolfj i'li'elined rmls"-57 antl' 58 and 'co'nstitutes a rins projectin on either side of the vertlcal .s teering pivpt. The .ends of the levert) are egnne'eted with the ends of these arms, 1$pectlvely,', by two links 52 and 53 which are connected with the lever 49 by pivotal pints 5 0 and b1, and with the cross-arms 5 4 pivotal joints 55 and 56.

y I l "lhe construct-ion above described is such that'when the steeringwheel 3G is turned the steering lever 49 is. swan in one dimetiqn er the'ether by means 0 the rQrrn and gear mechanism, and the links 52 an hem eem nanieate'this motion to the cenneeling ao member and the forward frame 1, so that the frames '1 and -'i are swung relatiyely..-,- ahqul; the steering pivot. 'lhe eouneetione are. such, further, that they do. not interfere with the ICljltl\v'C'IIlOYQlIKlIlS of the frames 35 abput the horizontal. pivot eincethelinks. and the pivotal joints at; thenends readily.

- a ecoln lnp date themselves tQsueli 1n0-vements: l'lfl-re a ction'ofi-the. worm. mechanism is to,

render the steering n eehanism i i;r eversibl e,.90 that is. to Say, it locks the frames in. all iangzular positions so. that shocks againstpthe -\'el'| iele \vheehs, clue to, inequalities in the,

road sln fagq eannot rotate the steering wheel-m d; change theangular relation-bee tween the frames.

' It shoulrlghe hpted that, iwing to tlie l oealion of. the steeringl \:ot; in substantially;

'the eenler of; the. vehicle, the 'a'lmelaassume earth angular positions up, steering. lhatthey -1o0 'always traek, that is tosay; therear-.wlnxsls .1

always follow thqfronh wheels in rounding -a. curate. the same as, when the vehicle-is oing di'reetly forward; '1 he.- relativev posilion}: of=the frames and the axles, whentheae re hiele is bein steered lp,the right, are illustrated hyf rii'oken lines in. Fig, 1, the.

line ll-J}:representing thepositions of the longitudinal axes of the. frame, the dine;-

l'l -ll allowingv the prr-it-ion. ofthe frontwllo axle, and the line, FrlG lllU position of: the rear. axle, When the vehicle. is steered-to the left the axeaol the frames asa unethe posi-- f tiolrillustl'ated ,by, theline C'-C.".

Where thelsteering mechanism is mounted in the" rear frame, as above deseribed the arraugenn-ut is particularly adapted for useinv a rehii -le ot the rumihoutltype, that is'a rehiele haying :rsingle sent mounted on the:=

real-jimmy m4 shown ilr lotted lineaat 87- Ill Fig. 2.. In this ease, since the \zehiele iaw controlled from the rear frame, lt-lfl neeesmay to provide llexihleconnections .be-

tad-"a the umuually-riperahle controlling'dewees and the power mechanism on the for- \vard l'ranm. llLUlllUl' to 'control the motor elul the change speed gearing where such is I used. l 'orll'dncpurpose I have dm iaed-a' numhanlsm eolnprmlng members sliding lori-. gltmlmally upon the vertmal and hormontal' frame b ivots, so that their movement is unaffected y rotative movements on these'pivots. A hand lever 69 is pivoted at 68 on the rear frame. This lever has a forwardly-projecting arm pivoted at its forward end to a depending link ('2 (Fig. 3). end of the link 72 is pivoted at 71 to the side of asleeve 70 which slides vertically on the pivot 8. The sleeve is grooved at its upper end, and this grooved portion is engaged by studs 73 on the forked end of a bellc1'ank le-- ver 7 4 which is pivoted at 7 5' on the intermediate connecting member. The bell-crank lever has a-depending arm which is similarly articulated with a sleeve 76 sliding on the By means of a link 77- (Fig. 1) the sleeve 7 6 may be connected with any part of the driving mechanism which requires to be actuated by the hand lever 09. Owing between the bell-cranlglever and the two sleeves, this connection is independent of rotative movements by either of the pivots,

and communication between the hand lever and the driving mechanism is thus unaffected by such movements.

1'. claim:

1. A running gear having, in combination, two vertical, substantially triangular frame members connected by a vertical pivot, two substantially horizontal frames connected with the vertical frames respectively, one of the horizontal frames being connected with the corresponding'f vertical about the vertical pivot, and a pair of wheels supporting each zontal pivot, drlving mechanism 'mountedon one i'ra1ne, a manuallyoperalile controlling device mounted on the other frame, and con- The lower to the form of connection member, a front the frames, respectively.

a longitudinal horizontal pivot. Qmeans or turning the frames relatively nections between the driving mechanism and said device comprising sleeves'on the two pivots and a lever connecting the sleeves. l

3. A' running gear having, in combination, two frames, a substantially vertical pivotal connection between the frames, arms connected .with one of the frames and projecting'on either side of the pivotal connection, manually-operable steering mechanism mounted upon the other frame, 'and two links connecting said arms, respectively, with the steering mechanism.

4. A. running gear having, in combination, two substantially hoi'laontalframes,v an intermediate connecting member of substantially triangular form having two corners arranged in substantially vertical relation and pivotally connected with one of said frames, pivotal connections between the other frame, and the connecting member atpoints located substantially at the third corner and a vertical edge of the connectin axle and ,a rear axle, an springs interposed between the axles and 5. A running-gear having, in combina-. tion, two frames, connections between the frames comprising a vertical pivot and a horizontal pivot, power-mechanism on one frame, a controlling lever for said powermechanism mounted on the other frame, and connections between said power-mechm nism and said lever comprising sleeveson the two pivots, a rock-lever connecting the two sleeves, connections between the controllin lever and one sle eve, and connections between the power inechanism and the other sleeve. a

ARTHUR R. SELDEN.

Witnesses D. GURNEE, C. S. Davis. 

